Actor Timothée Chalamet has had an explosive ride to Hollywood stardom. But while his acting talents have garnered him multiple awards, it is his wardrobe that has cemented his status as a menswear icon and secured the ultimate nod of approval from Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour: an invitation to co-chair next week’s Met Gala.
The annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York is one of the biggest events on the fashion calendar, and Chalamet is likely to dazzle on Monday evening’s red carpet alongside co-chairs Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka.
Blending sleek tailoring and street style, the actor has challenged traditional ideals of masculinity through bold florals, sparkling leather harnesses and an arsenal of black leather boots. Unlike many of his Hollywood contemporaries, however, Chalamet does not work with a stylist — though he undoubtedly enjoys help from the fashionable friends he has made along the way.
Baby steps
Chalamet, who has been acting since he was a teenager, was not always the slick, polished dresser he is today.
Timothée Chalamet attending a Chateau Marmont party in 2013. Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Timothee Chalamet in 2014 wearing galaxy-print trousers to a screening of “Nymphomaniac.” Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
As Chalamet became a household name in 2017, thanks to star turns in “Call Me by Your Name” and “Lady Bird,” his outfits matured with his performances. Turning to crisp suits, pressed collars and slick yet elegant outerwear, his look became that of a quintessential 21st century gentleman. What set him apart, however, were the occasions he chose to push boundaries by wearing suits in bold colors like cerulean and deep emerald.
It was around this time that Chalamet started embracing softness, as red velvet became a mainstay in his wardrobe. He also seemed emboldened to wear smart-casual attire at formal events, with sartorial wins including the purple suede jacket he wore to a screening of “Call Me by Your Name” and the red patterned polo he wore to a pre-Oscars event in 2017.
With friends like these
As Chalamet’s star continued to rise, his penchant for streetwear made way for something altogether more glamorous.
A crucial turning point may have been his friendship with designer Haider Ackermann, who was creative director of French label Berluti when the pair met in 2018. The young actor appeared to soak in Ackermann’s understated elegance, attending fashion shows and earning the nickname “Timo Bro” on the South American designer’s Instagram.
Chalamet wearing a white Berluti suit to the 2018 Oscars. Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Chalamet turned to designer Alexander McQueen for this floral-print suit, worn to the 2018 London premiere of “Beautiful Boy.” Credit: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images
Red carpet remixed
In 2019, as his on-screen success continued with movies “Little Women” and “The King,” Chalamet also hit his stride on the red carpet. Though never strayed too far from Ackermann, he also began working with brands like Louis Vuitton and Stella McCartney.
Social media exploded when Chalamet wore this black glittering Louis Vuitton harness to the Golden Globes. Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
The coup de grace was, however, the silver-gray Haider Ackermann suit worn for the movie’s Venice premiere. The ensemble, which he paired with no-nonsense black boots, went viral as an apparent homage to the suit of armor worn by Chalamet’s character in the period drama. But the thoughtful details, like a duochrome waist belt and silky cowl neck shirt, challenged preconceptions of red carpet menswear by combining a masculine silhouette with unexpectedly delicate details.
Yet another viral Timothee Chalamet fashion moment — the star turned to Haider Ackermann for the premiere of “The King” in 2019. Credit: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images
‘Dune’ and beyond
With the Covid-19 pandemic forcing celebrity red carpet events into hiatus, Chalamet appears to have quietly shifted into the next phase of his style evolution.
Timothée Chalamet wearing a Haider Ackermann outfit for the September premiere of “Dune.” Credit: John Phillips/Getty Images
Thanks to a newly forged partnership with Cartier, he has begun adorning himself in the brand’s vintage brooches. (One of them, recently pinned to a hoodie, sparked speculation as fans wondered the diamond scarab design was a reference to his new movie, “Dune,” and the logo of its production house, Legendary Pictures). And his collaboration with Ackemann also continues to prove fruitful, with Chalamet dressing in a brown tracksuit by the designer at the Venice Film Festival last week.
Later that day, he held his own alongside co-star — and red carpet favorite — Zendaya at the “Dune” premiere in yet another Ackermann outfit: A black sequined ensemble, featuring power shoulders and the barest glimpse of a white shirt. As Chalamet rose for a standing ovation, the light struck his outfit making it glimmer in the process.
Scroll through the gallery above to see some of Timothée Chalamet’s best red carpet looks.